Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

German

French

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the literature to determine whether hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors are effective for the prevention of nephropathy.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE (1966–April 2003) and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970–April 2003), as well as bibliographic searches, were conducted.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Although the statins are widely used for the prevention of coronary heart disease, non–lipid-lowering effects are also being investigated, namely their potential role in the prevention of nephropathy. Five trials of the statins used in this manner are reviewed, most of which included patients with dyslipidemias, making it difficult to determine whether the renoprotective effects were independent of the lipid-lowering effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Adequate evidence does not currently exist to support the widespread use of statins as alternatives to strategies known to prevent the progression of renal disease, but statins may be used to complement other therapies in patients with additional indications.

Keywords

hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor nephropathy renal insufficiency statins

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

1. Massy

Guijarro

O'Donnell

Kasiske

Keane

WF.

Lipids, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, and progression of renal failure. Adv Nephrol Necker Hosp 1997;27:39–57.

2. Keane

Guijarro

Effects of lipids on the pathogenesis of progressive renal failure: role of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A inhibitors in the prevention of glomerulosclerosis. Miner Electrolyte Metab 1996;22:147–52.

3. Lee

Tsai

CH.

Effect of pravastatin on proteinuria in patients with well-controlled hypertension. Hypertension 2002;40:67–73.

4. Tonolo

Ciccarese

Brizzi

Puddu

Secchi

Calvia

Reduction of albumin excretion rate in normotensive microalbuminuric type 2 diabetic patients during long-term simvastatin treatment. Diabetes Care 1997;20:1891–5.

5. Buemi

Allegra

Corica

Aloisi

Giacobbe

Pettinato

Effect of fluvastatin on proteinuria in patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2000;67:427–31.

6. van Dijk

Kamper

van Veen

Souverijn

JHM

Blauw

GJ.

Effect of simvastatin on renal function in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2001;16:2152–7.

7. Bianchi

Bigazzi

Caiazza

Campese

VM.

A controlled, prospective study of the effects of atorvastatin on proteinuria and progression of kidney disease. Am J Kidney Dis 2003;41:565–70.

8. Diercks

Janssen

WMT

van Boven

Bak

AAA

de Jong

Crijns

HJGM

Rationale, design, and baseline characteristics of a trial of prevention of cardiovascular and renal disease with fosinopril and pravastatin in nonhypertensive and nonhypercholesterolemic subjects with microalbuminuria (the Prevention of REnal and Vascular ENdstage Disease Intervention Trial [PREVEND IT]). Am J Cardiol 2000;86:635–8.